Qubool Hai.


Which is the first multi-storeyed building in Hyderabad? No prizes for guessing. Of course, it is the city’s most famous icon -- Charminar. And do you know there is a cat’s head designed in the apex of one of the small arches on the eastern side?
It was perhaps meant to be a deterrent to rats, the cause of plague. And when the epidemic ended, Charminar was raised to commemorate its riddance.
A by-lane from the Charminar leads to the sprawling market of Laad (bangles) bazaar.One of the shops is owned by Fatima.A girl in her early twenties.Her eyes are captivating.Glimpses of which are visible through her veiled face.A strong girl who lost her parents when she was very young and the only relative is her ailing old uncle who lives with her..
After her parents died her uncle raised her up.The bangle shop at Ladd bazaar is owned by him.Fatima's uncle had inherited it from his ancestors.Fatima was pursuing her graduation in Social Psychology from the Osmania University.Unlike other girls of her age she was rational.She questioned a lot.Listened eagerly and provided meaningful responses. After college she would return to her shop.She would read a lot there as well.
A certain amount of darkness is required for stars to be visible.Fatima was raised in a very orthodox family which imposed quite a few rules which were beyond her reasoning or logic.She failed to decrypt the mystery of  'Hijaab' (veil) when she was young. She asked many people -young and old,wise or otherwise.Everybody asked her to follow without asking.Her uncle would tell her that asking too many questions will bring back the rat which once destroyed the city ! Now that she has grown,gained wisdom and possess a plethora of wisdom,she knows no body really has the answer.The rat has done its job.It has destroyed the city long back.

Faatihma's heart went out for a guy from Yerevan (Armenia). His name was Armen.He had come to the city as a part of the exchange program between the Yerevan Haybusak University and Osmania University.He was a linguistic student.Studying Islamic literature and history.Both of them connected very well.Armen was from a different country and things which seemed obvious to most of us were questionable to him.This very fact excited Fatima. Armen always provided unbiased opinions or refrained from providing any if he was unaware.
Armen and Fatima spent long hours together.They discussed diverse issues ranging from world peace,the superiority of one God over the other,religious beliefs and disbelief's,gender biases and many more.They hardly came to an agreement.However they soon realized the whole discussion was giving rise to various possible outcomes and trains of thoughts.These could lead to constructive thinking if implemented on a larger scale.

Passion coupled with love can turn dangerous.The two of them staged a theatrical adaption of their daily conversation in the old city area.They sat across table enacting a college canteen and discussed issues in progression.Hinduism as a philosophy,Christinaity and its beliefs,Islam- the way it is viewed by others,gender biases and many more.An excerpt from the play - ' Surely this is freedom of choice.Why should it matter to others if someone wears the hijaab or not.Freedom of dress whether hijaab or mini skirt should be universal.One should be free to dress as one pleases,so long as we all are free to do so.'

The play was not taken well by the people.Faatihmas uncle reprimanded her.The people in her locality were literally up with arms against her.The authorities turned down requests for further appearances of the play.She was meted with utter discrimination and humiliation.Armen could not gauge the severity of the whole situation.He failed to understand the resentment against something rational.

Fatima could not go to college.Quite a few radical groups started posing problems for her.Armen was also pulled up for his involvement.It was almost a month that both of them met.Armen was determined to help Fatima and get her out of the plight.They had taped the whole play.Armen sent it across to various bodies including the UN council.The UN council members were impressed by the clarity of thought and the intense topics influencing various religions has been vividly potrayed.They were invited to carry out the same feat at the Geneva convention to be held next month.

Fatimas' uncles' health had been deteriorating day by day.She spent most of her time caring for him.On a slighly clouded afternoon after finishing  lunch her uncle suddenly sat up from his bed.Faatihma hurriedly helped him sit down.He spoke very softly.He kept his hand on Fatima's head and continued.'I know you are still afraid of rats.Our shop is full of them.You always keep your legs on the stool beneath in the fear one would bite.When you were young I used to point out to the Charminar and tell you the story of the cat which has eaten every mice and that you need not fear.Fatima - Its your turn now.You need to provide hope to the people around you.You need to tell them that the cat exists.I have seen your play.It is good.You can perform at the UN council.Insallah."

Fatima and Armen put out their best act together at the Geneva council.Largely appreciated and widely acclaimed.

“We can be of many nations, but earth is our land.
We can be of many races, but we are just one clan.”


Regards,
Avique.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Date with One Zero Zero

Memories in March

From Russia with love